Pages

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

(I've just realized it is April Fool's Day, so I guess I'm supposed to do something jokey. Let's pretend I did some elaborate ruse and move on.)

My sweet and beautiful niece Chelsea, who also towers over me, has just turned eighteen. Eighteen! I ask you. I felt it was Momentous and needed marking with some handmade something. So I made her a messenger bag with a bird on it. Wow that blue is like a turquoise supernova on the photo. It is bright, but doesn't hurt the eyes like the photos.

I've tried before in vain to find a link to the free messenger bag pattern I used, modified a bit of course. It is no longer available, but it is fairly simple. Just a bunch of rectangles really. Might do a write-up of my own version for a future tutorial.

The body and strap of the bag is more dark denim I had leftover from these. I came up with the flap design on my own, used midweight cottons I had in my stash, and just three pieces for the basic shape. Stabilized with some fusible interfacing. Then some machine applique for the branch, bird and leaves. Man, I dig applique! I've missed it. Heat n bond, how I love thee.

In my opinion, the more pockets a bag has, the better, so I added a pocket on the back of the bag and also two pockets on the inside.

Now I have the itch to make one for myself, and my sister (no. 2 of four) requested one for her birthday in July. Also I have another niece, Jamie, who recently turned eighteen (and who is also lovely and towers over me, what is the DEAL?). I'll have fun thinking of some other simple applique design for those.

12 comments:

What a great bag! I keep telling myself that I am going to make a purse, but the time does not seem to make itself available. Maybe in june... Please post a tute, i am interested in trying one similar to yours.

I love the bag. Makes me mourn the loss of machine even more. Hopefully it will be replaced soon. I will have to look thru the projects you posted so I can find something Marmee and make for Baby X. (still no name and less than 3 months to go)

Hello. Enough about me. Let's hear from you! If you have a question, I answer with a reply comment, so be sure to click the 'subscribe by email' link as you post your question to receive the answer via email. Thanks!

NEW PATTERN! Seventh in a series of twelve.

PDF Patterns:

find me here, too:

Etsy Shop:

Craftsy Store:

Flickr Group:

Follower of Christ, wife of my hero, mom to two crazy girlies, home school teacher, pattern designer, paper cutter, sewing junkie, and voracious reader. I'm addicted to all things artsy and craftsy. And coffee.

Translate

Follow by Email

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be madeknown to God. And the peace of God, which surpassesallcomprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in ChristJesus. Phil. 4:6,7

Legalese

All personal images and words are copyrighted 2008-2016 Larissa Holland unless otherwise noted, and are not for commercial use.

Pinning and linking are very welcome! Thank you! It is NOT OK for you to copy and republish my posts, in part or whole. It is NOT OK to re-upload my printable files to any other server.

It is fine by me if you would like to borrow one or two photos of a finished project to go with your link to my blog, but please credit the photo to me and kindly provide a link along with the credit. Thanks!